Live plants for newts?

[dipsydoodle]

I’m interested in getting some live plants in my newt tank. It’s fairly low light; but it is next to the window (the light for example shines in at an angle to the left and they are on the right hand side of the window). Any recommendations?

Also what kind of substrate would be best, I have gravel at the minute (too big for them to eat), and if possible I’d like to keep the gravel.

What would be the best type of fertilizer to use? And would I need a CO2 diffuser or would plants be ok without it?

I’d like a couple of smaller suggestions and a few bushier plant suggestions.

They currently have plastic plants and I got a bigger bushier one a while back and they seem to love it.

 

[misslyss]

Check out this link:

http://www.caudata.org/forum/f1173-...n/68644-live-plants-chinensis.html#post233251

Sand is a good substrate to use. The plants don't need anything like that. Its actually better not to have any bubbles because most newts prefer calm water.

 

[eldaldo]

Certain plants are really good in low light. Java moss will grow with almost no light (I have had first hand experience with this). Anubias and Java Fern are also lower light plants, but I have always used them with at least a small 20 watt fluorescent lamp. You can pick these up at a home improvement store quite cheap.

I have actually made some pretty attractive tanks using those three plants and some driftwood, and I would recommend them to begin with. The plants I got four years ago are still growing in my tanks.
Your gravel should be ok for these plants because they are not rooted, they all have rhizomes as roots (tie them with fishing line to a heavy rock or driftwood and they will send "roots" into that). I have gravel in my tanks and they do fine. If you were to try any plants with roots you might want a different substrate.

Fertilizer is tricky. I would be hesitant to use it with newts because they absorb things in the water through their skin. Maybe someone out there has used fertilizer with newts but I haven't needed to. My plants grow fine without it.

CO2 is unnecessary for these low maintenance plants, I have seen a person on this forum use CO2 injection with newts before, but I would make sure thoroughly read up about it before you tried. It is extremely expensive and if you screw up you can drastically effect the water chemistry which could harm the newts (but the good thing about amphibians is that they can leave the water if they don't like it, still you don't want to stress them out like that)

as far as advice on easy low maintenance planted tanks goes, this site is excellent Natural Aquariums - Guide to Planted Aquariums, Aquatic Plants, & Freshwater Invertebrates

They are all about not using expensive fancy setups for plants, which I think is a good way to begin. If you read through their articles section you can get alot of good beginners advice, however it is for fish aquariums, so keep that in mind. Another thing to keep in mind besides light and nutrient requirements are temperature requirements. Newt tanks are cold water, and alot of planted aquariums for fish are warm water. Before you buy anything check out the requirements.

I hope these are the answers you were looking for. Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[dipsydoodle]

Thank you both. I'll have a read of the links and get back with more questions.

I had read I didn't need CO2 but I just wanted to make sure.

I have a big rock in their tank which will be perfect for java moss (if it will root to it).

I was unsure about fertilizers too, I don't want to risk it.

 

[eFaN]

hi,

for my tank. i onli used anubias nana, java moss and java fern.

they beautify your tank and really tough plants!

low light, no need fertz or CO2 .



This picture is taken months after i bought them.. still as good as new.

fyi i used 2x14w light.

cheers

 

[dipsydoodle]

thanks your tank looks lovely. I'm going plant shopping today i think